The song “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by the Andrews Sisters is arguably the most famous song of World War II. However, the song isn’t about America joining the war but, rather America’s first peacetime draft. The war in Europe started to look inescapable to the United States. So the government decided to have a lottery where men would be randomly selected to train in the army in case of war.
The lyrics describe a trumpet player who was enlisted during the peacetime draft and joined the military band. Don Raye and Hughie Prince wrote the song in response to the casual nature of the draft. When America joined the war a year after the song was written, it became a hit overnight. The Andrews sisters would go on to perform at military shows across America.
Destiny Hall is a sophomore Writing Arts and English double major. She enjoys listening to rock, alternative music and Indie music in her free time.